Strawberry plant named ‘Alicia’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Alicia’ (a.k.a. ‘109180’).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: ‘Alicia’ (a.k.a. ‘109180’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Alicia’ (a.k.a. ‘109180’).

‘Alicia’ (a.k.a. ‘109180’) is the result of a controlled-cross made on May 29, 2013 between a female parent cultivar designated 105218 (a.k.a., ‘Zaralina’) and a male parent cultivar designated 102850 (a.k.a., ‘Victor’) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘109180’ and subsequently named ‘Alicia’. ‘Alicia’ is a day-neutral plant.

This new strawberry plant was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this plant were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. The plant is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry plant designated as ‘Alicia’ (a.k.a. ‘109180’). The plant is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

‘Alicia’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment, however with no variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry plant ‘Alicia’ from known strawberry plants. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The plants were 8-month old when the observation was made.

TABLE 1 ‘Alicia’ Characteristics Characteristic Description General Plant Habit Perennial Plant Growth Habit Upright Day Length Day Neutral Height (cm) 34 Width (cm) 35 Density of foliage low Plant vigor moderate Crown Diameter 4 cm Fertility Self-fertile Freezing quality moderate Leaf Leaf shape Concave Leaf variegation Absent Leaflets per leaf 3 Number of leaflets 88 to 128 Terminal leaflet width (mm) 93 Terminal leaflet length (mm) 86 Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 1.08 No. teeth/terminal leaflet 24 Shape of terminal leaflet Orbicular Shape of the terminal leaflet apex Rounded Shape of the terminal leaflet base acute Shape of terminal leaflet in concave cross-section Margin description of the terminal serrate to crenate Color of upper side of leaves RHS 137A Color of lower side of leaves RHS 139C Terminal leaflet margin revolute Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness medium Petiole length (cm) 20 Petiole diameter (mm) 4.8 Petiole color RHS 145A Limbs Petiolule length (cm) 0.95 Petiolule diameter (mm) 3.83 Petiolule color RHS 145B Stipule length (cm) 4 Stipule width (cm) 1.4 Stipule pubescence sparse Stipule anthocyanin Present Stipule color (color code) RHS 145C Stipule anthocyanin color RHS 185B Pedicel color (color code) 145A Attitude of hairs on upwards petiole and pedicel Inflorescence position relative above to foliage flower arrangement of petals free Petal length (cm) 1 Peduncle length 16 cm Peduncle diameter 4.54 mm Peduncle color (color code) RHS 145A Peduncle pubescence Medium to dense Attitude of hairs on peduncle upwards and pedicel Inflorescence Inflorescence position relative Above to foliage Number of Flowers 22 to 38 Flower arrangement of petals free Petal length 1.0 Petal width (cm) 1.1 Petal length/width ratio 0.91 Petal number per flower 5 to 6 Upper Petal color RHS 155C Lower Petal color RHS 155D Petal shape Orbicular Petal apex rounded Petal base shape concave peduncle size medium Calyx diameter (cm) 3.7 Calyx diameter relative to corolla larger Inner calyx diameter relative to outer Smaller to calyx equal Sepal number per flower 10 to 14 Sepal length (cm) 1.3 Sepal width (cm) 0.5 Sepal shape Elliptical Sepal apex Convex Sepal margin Entire Corolla diameter (cm) 2.6 Sepal length (cm) 1.3 Sepal width (cm) 0.5 Time of flowering March (50% of plants in bloom) Shape of stigma capitate Color of stigma RHS 172A Length of style (mm) 1.12 Color of style RHS 6A Color of the ovary RHS 145B Receptacle color RHS 145A Length of the stamens (mm) 4.6 Anther diameter (mm) 0.8 Anther length (mm) 1.2 Number of stamen 26 Shape of anther dorsifixed Size of anther medium Color of anther RHS 12A Amount of pollen moderate to high Color of pollen RHS 22A Color of filament RHS 149D Length of filament (mm) 2.73 Number of flowers per truss 3 to 6 Stolon Stolon number 3 to 11 Stolon anthocyanin RHS 181A Widest diameter of stolon 3.3 At leaf attachment (mm) Stolon color RHS 145A Stolon Length 52.67 cm Stolon anthocyanin RHS 181A Stolon thickness medium Stolon pubescence medium Widest diameter of stolon at leaf 3.3 mm attachment Fruit Number of fruit per truss 3 to 5 Fruit length (cm) 4.7 Fruit width (cm) 4.1 Fruit length/width ratio 1.15 Relative fruit size medium Fruit calyx diameter (cm) 5.2 Fruit skin color RHS 45A Fruit flesh color excluding core RHS 41A Fruit core color RHS 49A Color of calyx RHS 137C Position of calyx Below surface Level of adherence of calyx strong Pose of calyx segments reflexed Size of calyx in relation to fruit Equal to larger Fruit weight (g) 28 Predominant fruit shape globose conic Shape difference between primary & No shape secondary fruits difference Width of band without of achenes medium Fruit glossiness medium Position of achenes even Achene color RHS 149A Achenes per fruit 308 Achene weight (g) 0.22 Position of achenes in relation to skin even surface Surface texture Smooth Texture when tasted medium Position of calyx inserted Level of adherence of calyx strong Color of calyx RHS 137C Firmness of flesh firm Evenness of flesh color nearly even Sweetness Brix 8 Type of bearing Day neutral Time of fruit ripening May Harvest maturity (50% of plants with June ripe fruit) Appearance score 3.5 (1 to 5 with 5 = best) Storage longevity 5 to 10 days pH 3.46 Yield (grams per plant per season) 2206 Hollow core length (cm) 1.9 Hollow core width (cm) 1.1 Hollow core length/width ratio 1.73 Hollow core size medium

‘Alicia’ is distinguished from its paternal parent by its larger fruit size, greater ease of harvest, and its presentation of shorter and thicker petioles. ‘Alicia’ is distinguished from its maternal parent by its larger fruit size, greater yield volume, and longer flower stems. ‘Alicia’ is similar to the variety ‘Monterey’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,767), but possesses several distinguishing traits from Monterey. ‘Alicia’ is distinguished from ‘Monterey’ by its greater ease of harvest, smaller plant size, and higher berry yield per plant. ‘Alicia’ presents shorter and thicker petioles than ‘Monterey’. ‘Alicia’ has a lower cull rate than ‘Monterey’ and both of its parents. ‘Albion’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,228) is a commercial strawberry variety that is similar to, but distinguished from ‘Alicia’. The fruit yield of ‘Alicia’ exceeds the yield of ‘Albion’ in multiple annual testing cycles performed at the breeders test location in Watsonville Calif.

In addition, ‘Alicia’ scored better than it's parents for percent marketable fruit of the sum of all fruit produced in Watsonville Calif. test plots. Compared to its parents, ‘Alicia’ was observed to withstand adverse post harvest ambient temperatures over several days, demonstrating a putative longer shelf life as well as less susceptibility to the discoloration effect associated with bruising that occurs during the hand harvesting procedure. The fruit of each of the parents of the strawberry plant variety named ‘Alicia’ was observed to be lighter in redness coloration ‘Alicia’. One parent of ‘Alicia’, a strawberry plant variety named ‘Victor’ (a.k.a., 102850), was determined to be a short day variety, whereas ‘Alicia’ has been determined to be a day neutral type when grown in the breeder's Watsonville Calif. test farm. The color of the foliage of ‘Victor’ is a lighter green than it's offspring ‘Alicia’. ‘Victor’ produces more fruit over the fruiting season than it's offspring ‘Alicia’, however ‘Alicia’ produces fruit during a longer period of time than it's short-day parent ‘Victor’. The other parent of ‘Alicia’, a strawberry plant variety named ‘Zaralina’ (a.k.a., 105218) produces much less fruit than ‘Alicia’, and the plant structure of ‘Zaralina’ is smaller and more compact than ‘Alicia’. The strawberry plant variety named ‘Alicia’ produces more stolon in the fruiting field than either of it's parents when grown in the breeder's Watsonville location.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Alicia’ about 6-month old.

FIG. 2 shows ‘Alicia’ plants growing in the field with multiple fruits.

FIG. 3 shows the front side of a leaf of ‘Alicia’ plants.

FIG. 4 shows the back side of a leaf of ‘Alicia’ plants.

FIG. 5 shows fruits of ‘Alicia’ plants.

FIG. 6 shows fruits of ‘Alicia’ plants cut in half. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Alicia’, substantially as shown and described herein. 